We Have So Much Further To Go
June 9, 2010 at 1:06 pm | Posted in Stephen Strasburg | 18 CommentsA few months back, I wrote an article asking if the more hardcore fans, those who read & write blogs and are interested in advanced statistics, are further out of touch with common fans than we thought. What set me off on that at the time was that despite all of the knowledge that’s come into the game in the post-Moneyball era, you still had a seeming majority of more casual Dodger fans clamoring to replace Manny Ramirez with Juan Pierre. (Before anyone notes that Manny’s been struggling, remember that Pierre is rocking a .606 OPS in Chicago, the lowest of his non-distinguished career, and the Dodgers got John Ely and Jon Link for him.)
What brings me back to this today is the reaction to Stephen Strasburg‘s debut last night, which was jaw-dropping in the sense that he somehow managed to exceed the hype. (And don’t think I didn’t smile when old friend Delwyn Young managed to take him deep.) As high as the anticipation was for Strasburg’s start, it was nothing compared to the rush to start carving out his bust for Cooperstown immediately afterwards, including notes from people I respect like from Fangraphs’ Dave Cameron:
Stephen Strasburg‘s xFIP: -0.50. That’s right – negative zero point five zero.
Obviously it’s just one start, but what Strasburg accomplished under that spotlight was so impressive that no one with a lick of baseball knowledge could possibly say anything bad about it, with ESPN’s Buster Olney actually going so far as to say that he allowed Young’s homer because his change-up was too good. (Uh, yeah. I know.)
No one, that is, except the readers of the New York Daily News:
Really, people? I didn’t expect this to be the 100% landslide it really should have been, but nearly 2/3 of the people responding to this poll think it’s just because the Pirates blow, and not that Strasburg was just that good? I suppose I’m placing too much importance on what is a completely unscientific poll, but still. It’s things like this which make me realize we have so much further to go.
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People are ridiculous. Yes, the Pirates aren’t a very good team, but the Pirates are 10 times better than any competition he’s ever faced in his entire life. You think the Pirates wouldn’t annihilate any minor league team Strasburg has ever pitched for. The performance was incredible against a professional baseball team who are some of the best in the world.
Comment by Ely's Coming, Better Hide Your Heart— June 9, 2010 #
The Pirates snark really bugged me. As if pitchers are pulling 14 K/0 BB/sub-100 pitches on the Pirates every day of the week.
Comment by Jon Weisman— June 9, 2010 #
Y’know, playing the devil’s advocate for a second, it could be that part of this reaction is people rebelling to the hype. I have to admit I was blown away by how good he was, and his fast ball and breaking stuff is just sick. It was ridiculous most of the time, and almost unfair at others. But still I find my self annoyed with the coverage. People saying this was historic and magical etc, calling for his immediate induction into the HOF. So much hype is just silly, even if it is deserved. And perhaps some people are annoyed with it, ESPECIALLY fans of the NL East, who are more likely to vote in such a poll.
Comment by EephusBlue— June 9, 2010 #
I felt that way in the days leading up to the game as well. But, he really did live up to it, didn’t he?
Comment by Mike Scioscia's tragic illness— June 9, 2010 #
He did for sure and then some. I was expecting him to get shelled. But wow he shut them down. And the “hey its the Pirates” is crap. Still, I am getting tired of the sports world coverage of it calling it an event. I say to that, meh. Let’s put him in the HOF after a few starts.
Comment by EephusBlue— June 9, 2010 #
As someone who saw Strasburg pitch in person, here in AAA-Syracuse, I have to admit he looked 100 times better pitching last night than he had in any of his AAA starts. As much as I hated that he was making his 1st Major League start against a team like the Pirates, I have to agree with Ely’s Coming & Weisman, in that the Pirates are still a major league team, not a AAA team. I’ll admit that after he came out of the game, I was annoyed with how Costas was already down on his knees, ready to go down on Strasburg, but I said the same thing many say about Ely – just wait until he faces the “Powerhouse” teams, or goes thru the league for the 2nd time. I don’t doubt his abilities, but he’s not going to go out and throw 7 innings of 14K, 0BB ball everytime against true major league talent.
Comment by Gibby's Limp— June 9, 2010 #
Yeah I will reserve judgment if he can perform like this every 5 days. And you are right about Costas. haha
Comment by EephusBlue— June 9, 2010 #
I also give him credit for pitching the game he did, against anyone for that matter, in front of a crowd 5x larger than any he had in the minors. Pitching “great” in front of 30,000 fans in a major league stadium (let alone the much larger national stage he was also put on) is a lot harder than pitching “great” in front of 6,000 fans in a AAA park. I know the game is played on the field, but you have to figure the large national audience must have played a small part in his head – good or bad (i.e. adreneline) – right?
Comment by Gibby's Limp— June 9, 2010 #
Costas pleasuring Strasburg . . . I’d tune in to see that.
Comment by mk— June 9, 2010 #
It gave me joy to see Tim Kurkjian, Buster Olney and company lay all that praise on Strasburg after literally saying almost a year ago today that his delivery mechanics would hamper his MLB success.
It’s going to be a longer road than many people think for Strasburg, but he did indeed get it started with some amazing fireworks.
Comment by JayHowell— June 9, 2010 #
Next pole in the NY Daily News would probably be if the Yankees or Mets should trade Joba for him. Possibly with it saying straight up or Nats would need to add to the trade to “even” it out.
Comment by Throwdeuce— June 9, 2010 #
Boy if the Mets could trade Joba from the Yankees to Washington and get Strasburg in return that would be crazy awesome. :)
Comment by EephusBlue— June 9, 2010 #
Should have put on there the Mets would have to trade Pelfrey
Comment by Throwdeuce— June 9, 2010 #
Yes. The rumors would be: Joba for Strasburg straight up; F-Mart for Strasburg straight up; and Kershaw, Billingsley, Ethier, Kemp, DeJesus, Withrow, and Martin for Strasburg.
Comment by Justin— June 9, 2010 #
Exactly, Yankees and Mets barely would have to trade shit, while Dodgers would have to trade a shitload
Comment by Throwdeuce— June 10, 2010 #
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Comment by Chris Ross— June 9, 2010 #
Nice debut, but the Pirates ought to be ashamed of themselves, letting a 21-year-old kid in his big-league debut intimidate them like that before he’d even thrown a pitch. This is the team of Wagner, the Waner brothers, Kiner, Clemente, Stargell, Parker and the young Barry Bonds? For shame, Steel City! The Fam-i-ly has become dysfunctional.
Comment by Uncle Mike— June 9, 2010 #
Karl Spooner.
Comment by SC Dodger— June 12, 2010 #